Railway Works at Ashurst

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, 21 March 1890, Page 3

Railway Works at Ashurst

When in Ashurst the other day, we took the opportunity of having a look at the Pohangina bridge. Mr Bassett's contract for this structure presents the unusal spectacle of a N. Z. Government contract finished before time. The contract date is next month, and while we were there we watched the driving of the las few rivets, and it w s reckoned that the bridge would be finished and out of hands yesterday. Mr Basset has certainly been favoured with splendid weather, a better year having hardly ever been known in the neighbourhood, looked at from a contractor's point of view, there having been no floods at all troublesome. But Mr Bassett has also been master of his work, having to do nothing twice, and getting from his men the reputation of being a " splendid boss " to work for. Nearly all his machinery and plant has been removed and the remainder will soon follow, but the bridge will long stand as a monument of his skill and promptness. Its total length is 718 feet. 640 being ironwork and the remainder timber and spans, which will be partly filled up by the formation. The heigh from the ordinary waterlevel to the pierheads is about 22 ft, and to the top of the stringers is about another 6 feet. Along one side there is a flooring intended as a passage way for the railwaymen as they pass to and from. There be sufficient space for them to clear a passing train and by holding on to the iron work at the side there will be no fear of their being carried away by it. One very neat little bit of machinery was shown to us while on the bridge a hydraulic punch Standing about two feet high on a tripod stand, worked by two men using a little more than a pint of fluid, water and glycerine, this little affair brought a pressure of three and a half tons to the square inch to bear and punched seven eight inch holes from iron plate five eights of an inch thick as it was not a matter to think twice about. The bridge has been painted bright red and presents a very curious aspect standing up in the middle of the river bed with a long gap between it and the bank. A very good view of the river up stream can be obtained from it. It will be connected with the mills on one side and the Ashurst flat on the other by means of long embankments, which are busily proceeding. The ones on the Ashurst side is very long and high one on an as cending grade. It strikes the cliff at a good distance from the top and the cutting goes on past the Ashurst road before it reaches the level of the township. The railway leaves this at some little distance as it passes between the Wesleyan Church. To procure material for the embankment a very large quarry will be cut out of the, flat where the Governmen has a reserve of several acres fo ballast pits The up stream side of the em bankment is being protected with fascines which will be continued around the point and for some dis ance back on the down stream face

The fascines are carried up to a level of three feet above the highest known flood water mark which is about eight feet above what may be called the ordinary high flood line. They are strongly made faggots of manuka and are laid in layers which are fastenod with wire to stout manuka poles which are then driven deeper still into the earth by means of a monkey It will take something to shift them. Earth is laid on each layer of fascines and so on alter nately. There will be two groins similarly fascined on the up stream face of the embankment, so that altogether it ought to be strong enough to stand anything the Pohangina is ever likely to bring against it. The present contracter. Mr Denby, is carrying on the works in a way that gives the Government no fault to find with him. We have to thank Mr McGonagle for his courtesy in showing us the bridge and works. It is thought that possibly the railway may be opened for the holiday traffic at Christmas time. Amen so mote it be.— Examiner.